It was after eleven, hours since the note was delivered. His phone rang.
He answered it quickly. "Hi."
She waited a minute before talking. "I want so badly to hate you."
He held his breath.
"It's not working, though." She paused. "I keep understanding you. I don't want to. I just want to be mad at you because you hurt me. But I keep understanding."
"You should be mad at me."
She looked at the note she had read numerous times. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine."
"Define fine?"
"I don't know."
She folded the note. "Can you come over?"
"I'll be by you in a few."
She hung up the phone and wiped her cheeks dry. She got up and started organizing her room, but the knock at the front door came sooner than she had expected.
She heard him let himself in. He was by her room a moment later but didn't move from the doorpost.
"You can come in."
Hesitantly, he walked in.
She sat on her bed and patted the spot next to her.
He sat down. She wondered if he too was thinking about how they had started off like this yesterday.
"It was beautiful." She bit her bottom lip. "The letter... it was beautiful."
His hand moved to wipe the tear she couldn't keep in.
"Maybe you could write." She laughed but it quickly changed to a cry.
He took her into a hug. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
She pushed him away; he didn't budge.
"To let go?"
"No," she cried yet tried pushing him harder. He held her closer.
"I'm sorry."
"I hate you. I hate you."
He kissed her head. "I know."
"I hate you, Nick."
"I know."
She stopped fighting and collapsed against him.
"I hate you," she repeated as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"I know."
"You weren't fair or right," she cried.
"I know."
"I hate you."
"I know."
She lifted her head and pulled herself back. "Why can't I hate you?" she whispered.
His nose flared, and he frowned.
She ran her hands through his hair and down his neck. "Nick."
"I know. I'm sorry, Molsie. I hurt you. I'm sorry."
She pulled away from him and laid down. Hesitantly, he came behind her and hugged her.
"What's happening to us?"
"What do you mean?"
"The Charlie thing. Now, this. One right after the other. We were always good. What happened?"
"With greater reward comes higher risk."
She turned around. "No. I don't want to feel this way. We're us. Best friends. I don't need next week to be something else. This hurt too much. It's exhausting-."
YOU ARE READING
Only You
Romance"Oh my gosh, you scared me." Nick looked her up and down. She was in nothing but an oversized t-shirt and underwear. A bra was lacking too, revealing the natural shape of her breasts. "I thought you went to sleep," she said and casually dropped the...
